Painting Chipboard Floors

Kittie McCoyUpdated November 21, 2016

Chipboard consists of wood chips, sawdust and resin bonded together to create sheets similar to plywood that are often used in homes as a subfloor. Chipboard may have a very rough, textured surface that appears to be small bits of wood pressed together, or it may have a smooth finish created by a thin layer of wood veneer. Regardless of the type of chipboard on your floor, you can paint it with standard house paint. A rough chipboard will require several more layers of paint to ensure that the paint fills in all of the tiny cracks and crevices in the floor to create a smooth surface.

Sweep the chipboard floor to remove any dust or dirt from the surface before you begin painting.

Fill any large gouges in the floor, or the seams between the sheets of chipboard, with wood filler. Smooth the wood filler flat with a putty knife and allow it to dry for 24 hours.

Apply one coat of latex paint to the floor with a paint roller. Start in the corner farthest from the door to avoid painting yourself into a corner. Let the paint dry completely. The chipboard will absorb some of the paint and the floor will appear extremely rough.

Apply two to four additional coats of paint to the chipboard floor with a paint roller. Let each coat of paint dry completely before you begin to apply the next. Continue adding layers of paint until you are satisfied with the floor's appearance.

Apply a layer of clear-coat polyurethane to the floor with a paint roller when the paint is completely dry. Let the polyurethane dry, then repeat the process to add two to four additional layers of polyurethane to the floor.

Tip

Use water-based polyurethane over light paint colours because oil-based polyurethane may yellow over time.

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About the Author

Kittie McCoy has been a freelance writer since 2008. She is also a part-time personal trainer and licensed entertainer in Las Vegas. She enjoys sharing her love of physical fitness and experience in the entertainment industry via her writing.